Scripture for Oct. 21

Job 38:1-7 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Photo by Alejandro Tocornal on Unsplash

The Lord Answers Job

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up your loins like a man,
    I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone
7 when the morning stars sang together
    and all the heavenly beings[a] shouted for joy?

Footnotes:

1. Job 38:7 Heb sons of God

Job 38:34-41 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
    so that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go
    and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,[a]
    or given understanding to the mind?[b]
37 Who has the wisdom to number the clouds?
    Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
    and the clods cling together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
    or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens,
    or lie in wait in their covert?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey,
    when its young ones cry to God,
    and wander about for lack of food?

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Prayer Oct. 19

FRIDAY

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Hosea 13:9-16; Acts 28:1-16; Luke 9:28-36

God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.

As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Book Club Selections for 2018-2019

Please join Presbyterian Women Book Club
We generally meet the 4th Wednesday in the month at 9:30am in Room 102
All are welcome!

Many of the book titles are available thru the public library system.  If you buy them on Amazon, be sure to use Amazon Smile which supports our Children's Ministry ( Presbyterian Church in the USA St Mark.)


Oct.24: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Nov.28: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
December: NO MEETING
Jan.23: Educated by Tara Westover
Feb.27: The Dry by Jane Harper
Mar.27: The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
Apr.24: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
May 22: The Soul of America: the Battle for our Better Angels by John Meacham
June 26: The Day the Wold Came to Town by Jim DeFrede
July: NO MEETING
Aug.28: My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira
Sep.25: BOOK SELECTION MEETING

Fall Festival 2018: Rain or Shine

 A cool and cloudy day, didn't dampen the spirits of those attending the Fall Festival at St. Mark Presbyterian.  With balloon art, a band, Louie from the St. Louis Blues, face-painting, caricature drawings not to mention seeing Pastor Dave in lederhosen at our Root Beer Garden, it was  a bright spot in a gloomy day.  Thank you to all who contributed and participated!

Plan Grande 2 Scholarship Program

THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Every year since 2000, our presbytery has sent a delegation to visit with our partners in Plan Grande 2 Nicaragua. Members from many GLPBY congregations have participated. We did not just decide on our own that getting kids to stay in school was the priority for the community. We engaged in conversations with the community leaders and together initiated the Scholarship Program in 2004. Initially there was no secondary school in the community which meant that students had to ride public transportation to a town 10km from PG2. Within a few years, the demand for a secondary school in the area grew – due in part to the increased enrollment enabled by the scholarship program. PG2 community leaders advocated for a local school and now students attend the 15 de Septiembre school within walking distance of their homes.

All decisions about the structure and parameters of the scholarship program are made together with the community leaders and our team. Students are required to meet academic standards that go beyond the minimum required by the school to be considered “passing”. The $200 annual scholarship is distributed by the leaders in PG2 to parents or other responsible adults in 2 installments during the school year. Generally, we support between 30 and 40 students a year. As of 2018 we have been blessed with over 80 graduates!

Many graduates remain in the area and work in whatever ways they can to contribute economically to their families. Some have moved away for construction work in Costa Rica or factory work in Esteli. Based on what we know from the leaders of PG2, it seems that about half of the graduates have continued their education in some way. We celebrate with the community that some young people have various careers including becoming teachers in rural Nicaragua.

To learn more about a fund-raiser for this scholarship program, click here.

Worship Oct. 7

CENTERING PRAYER 

        Gracious God, perhaps I should quit this habit of reading two newspapers before I go to work.  The world I read about seems to get worse each day.  It’s enough to make me throw in the towel and to leave it to the rascals to finish it off.

But then, I remember it is this world you love, not another, and I begin to re-focus.  There is hope for the world and for me, after all.  Your love is at work, even in the midst of violence and death.  I know it because your dear child Jesus was not overcome by either violence or death, but overcame them both by the power of your love.  That’s all I need to know.

        Help me, then, not to flinch away from the daily news, to serve the world truly well, and to do it with all the gifts you have given me, the greatest of which is love.  Amen.  (Jorge Lara-Braud)

     

CALL TO WORSHIP

The heavens are telling the glory of God, all creation speaks volumes of God’s handiwork.

        Each sunrise proclaims God’s faithfulness, and the night reveals the Creator’s awe.

Without speaking a word, all creation bears witness to the goodness of the Lord.

        May we join in witness with all creation.  May the words of our mouths and the   meditation of our hearts be God’s signature in this world.

Come, let us worship our God together!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of compassion and mercy, we are your wounded and wounding children.  We bring our wounded selves, our divided society, and our broken world, seeking your healing and transforming grace; it is easy for us to point the finger at others, yet we know we all need your forgiveness.  We lift into your presence the victims of conflicts and those we have called enemies.  Break down the walls of hatred, distrust, and bitterness, and open a way for us to reach one another in truth and love.  Enable us to build a society where all can belong, to share our gifts in mutual respect, and to seek the new future you offer us through Jesus the Christ.  (Silent Confession)

SCRIPTURE READING                                               Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

   SERMON                                              “Still Speaking,”

Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – (adapted from the Belhar Confession)

We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the unity of the communion of saints of the entire human family.  We believe this unity of the people of God must be manifest and active, in that we love one another; that we give ourselves willingly and joyfully to one another, that we are share one baptism together, that we eat of one bread and drink of one cup together, that we confess one name, one Lord, for one cause, with one hope, which is the height and the breadth and the depth and the love of Christ, forever and ever.  Amen.

  

Scripture for Oct. 14

Mark 10:17-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Photo by Andrew Gook on Unsplash

The Rich Man

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money[a] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is[b]to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another,[c] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,[d] 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Footnotes:

1. Mark 10:21 Gk lacks the money
2. Mark 10:24 Other ancient authorities add for those who trust in riches
3. Mark 10:26 Other ancient authorities read to him
4. Mark 10:29 Or gospel

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Prayer for Oct. 12

FRIDAY

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Hosea 9:10-17; Acts 24:24-25:12; Luke 8:1-15

God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.

As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.

Fall Festival

Sunday, October 14

St. Mark welcomes our Families and Friends to the Fall Festival

Everyone is welcome to the Fall Festival, October 14, 11:30am – 2:30pm.
Lunch in Gleason Hall includes brats, hot dogs & chicken nuggets.

Enjoy the Good Turn Daily Band while your children and grandchildren have fun with the bounce house, cake walk, face painting, Halloween balloon animals, Root Beer Garden and more.

Come see Louie of the St. Louis Blues!

Fund-raiser of Plan Grande 2 Scholarship Fund

St. Mark and our sister congregations in the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery are actively involved in a long-term covenant partnership with the rural community of Plan Grande 2, Nicaragua. Supported by CEPAD (Council of Protestant Churches in Nicaragua), the mission of this partnership is to “follow Christ's example to love and care for one another as we cultivate understanding and acceptance of our similarities and differences, work for justice, share joy, hope and the message of the Gospel.”

St. Mark and the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery have been strong, consistent supporters of the Plan Grande 2 scholarship fund. This fund is carefully administered in collaboration with community leaders by PCUSA Mission Co-Worker Tracey King-Ortega and cross-presbytery support is coordinated by Harriet Hall and Barbara Wilcock.

* Celebrate and Support our successful scholarship students

* Learn about the recent national crisis in Nicaragua and the positive developments in Plan Grande 2

* Explore ways to support and become involved in this mission

* Enjoy a terrific meal at one of St. Louis’ finest Italian restaurants

* Monday, October 22, 2018, 6:00-9:00PM, Dinner served at 7:00PM

* LoRusso’s Cucina, 3121 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63139

* $60 per person -- Reservations Required

* RSVP by Wednesday, October 17th via email pg2nicaragua@gmail.com or call Harriet Hall 314-963-7112

* Checks payable to “GLPBY” mailed to 20 North Maple Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63119

If you have any questions or suggestions about St. Mark Mission activities -or- want to explore how to become more involved, please contact Christine Polak, Clarice Hutchens or Joyce Blackwell, Committee Co-Chairs.